# Point-of-care system to assess the risk of trauma-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome

> **NIH NIH R61** · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · 2024 · $375,048

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Trauma-induced acute respiratory dysfunction syndrome (ARDS) is a deadly condition in which lung failure
results from a traumatic injury to another part of the body. Recently, several studies have established a link
between circulating histones and lung failure. Traumatic injuries cause a massive amount of cell death,
resulting in the release of high concentrations of histones into circulation, which can directly lead to ARDS, as
histones damage the lungs. In addition, circulating histones exacerbate exaggerated pro- and anti-
inflammatory responses that also result in damage to the lungs and other organs. Identification and
quantification of trauma-triggered circulating histones would provide an approach to assess the risk of ARDS,
which could enable life-saving therapies before a patient develops ARDS. Diagnostic solutions to provide early
detection of histones following trauma should be portable and rapid in order to assess the patient soon after
the injury occurs. Currently, however, there are no portable and rapid approaches that enable detection of
circulating histones to assess a trauma patient’s risk of developing ARDS. Our goal is to develop a diagnostic
tool that is capable of quantitatively assessing the risk of trauma-induced ARDS at the point of care. This may
include at the point of injury, in the transport vehicle to a trauma center, in the Emergency Department (ED), or
in the operating room (OR). We have invented a Portable Histone Assay Technology (PHAST) that can
quantify circulating histones directly from whole blood within 30 minutes.
.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10796865
- **Project number:** 5R61HL167252-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
- **Principal Investigator:** Ian M White
- **Activity code:** R61 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $375,048
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-03-01 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10796865

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10796865, Point-of-care system to assess the risk of trauma-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (5R61HL167252-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10796865. Licensed CC0.

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